Medications Affecting the Nervous System
Name 3 antidepressants you might see at Kununurra Hospital.
Escitalopram
Citalopram
Desvenlafaxine
Mirtazapine
Sertraline
Fluoxetine
Fluvoxamine
Amitriptyline
Duloxetine
What is ramipril used for?
Hypertension
Also benefits in renal protection and cardiovascular remodelling.
Is Optisulin® long acting or short acting?
Long acting
Why are wound swabs so important?
So that we can tailor antibiotic choices specific to the bug.
What is ivermectin used to treat?
Scabies, strongyloides
What disease is Levodopa (Madopar®) used for?
Parkinson's disease
What is the main difference between metoprolol and atenolol (hint: think dose frequency).
Metoprolol - short acting = BD
Atenolol - long acting = Daily
Does it matter if Ryzodeg® is given with or without food?
YES it matters - given with food as the short acting component may cause hypoglycaemia.
What is Piptaz®?
Is it broad spectrum or narrow spectrum?
Piperacillin + Tazobactam
Very broad spectrum covers lots of bugs so often used for severe infections where the cause is not yet determined.
Name an antibiotic used at KDH that requires drug levels for monitoring?
Vancomycin
Gentamicin
What medication is Lyrica®?
Pregabalin
What electrolyte should we be monitoring in someone taking furosemide?
Potassium (can cause hypokalaemia)
What is one of the main severe adverse side effects of linagliptin and sitagliptin?
Pancreatitis - severe abdo pain.
What is MRSA?
Methicillin resistant staph aureus
In simple terms.. a staph bacteria that displays resistance to multiple antibiotics.
What medication is Duodart®? What is it used for?
Dutasteride + Tamsulosin
Used for Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) aka enlarged prostate.
What is 1 main difference between Temazepam and Diazepam?
Temazepam works quick and short (good for insomnia)
Diazepam works slower and longer (good for alcohol withdrawal)
What is the difference between perindopril erbumine vs perindopril arginine.
Same medication just manufactured as different salts.
2mg of perindopril erbumine = 2.5mg of perindopril arginine.
Bonus point: What is 10mg of perindopril arginine equivalent to in erbumine?
When should levothyroxine be administered to a patient?
On an empty stomach - very poor absorption if given with food.
What medications are in Resprim® / Septrin® and why do we use it so much in the Kimberley?
Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole
To cover for MRSA.
If someone has Rheumatic Heart Disease, what is their regular medication and how often should they have it?
Long Acting (LA) Bicillin I.M. every 21-28 days.
Prevent further infections from Group A strep.
Midazolam - Buccal
Empagliflozin and dapagliflozin are usually used for .... ? What is a secondary major benefit of this medication?
Beneficial effects in patients with heart failure and kidney disease. Shown to decrease hospitalisations in patients with heart failure and also slow down kidney disease.
Name a GLP1 receptor agonist medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Liraglutide (Victoza)
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Semaglutide (Ozempic)
What is the main oral antibiotic where alcohol should be avoided when taking? Why?
Metronidazole interacts with alcohol to cause a disulfiram reaction - flushing, headaches, nausea, vomiting and rash.
Why is codeine often referred to as a 'bad' or 'dirty' drug?
The enzyme that metabolises codeine in the body differs significantly from person to person. Some people are rapid metabolisers (little effect) some are slow metabolisers (bad effect - adverse reactions).